Door control mechanism



Nov. 9, 1965 o. c. ECKEL 3,215,051

DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORNov. 9, 1965 o. c. ECKEL DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

Nov. 9, 1965 o. c. ECKEL 3,216,051

DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM I Filed March 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,216,051 DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Oliver C. Eckel,Carlisle, Mass. (R0. Box 226, Cambridge 38, Mass.) Filed Mar. 17, 1964,Ser. No. 352,623 8 Claims. (CI. 16-80) This invention relates tomechanism to control a door.

One object of my invention is to provide control mechanism that enablesa door to be moved between open and closed positions without raising orlowering the door.

Another object is to provide mechanism that will maintain a door inclosed position until an appreciable amount of pressure is applied toit, thus avoiding involuntary opening, even slightly, of a door.

Still another object is to provide mechanism that will return a door toclosed position automatically when pressure against it is released.

A further object is to provide mechanism in operative arrangementwhereby the resistance to the opening movement is reduced when the dooropens beyond a critical an le.

2 still further object is to provide the mechanism referred to abovewhich utilizes two compression springs by a single movement of the door,to attain the advantage of a higher constant of compression and greaterflexibility, and also to enable the installation of my mechanism in lessspace.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed bythe drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render itsusceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I amnot to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor tothe particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled toall such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, broken away, showing a double doorin closed position, with my control mechanisms connected to each door.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one door in closed position, showing mymechanisms connected thereto.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view showing one door in partly openposition.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, front elevational view showing my mechanismwhen a door is in closed position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, plan view of a pivot pin that connects two linksof my mechanism to a cam.

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of a cover for my mechamsm.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the cover shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a cam forming mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of said cam.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a link forming part of my mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2; but showing a modificationof my invention and with the door in open position.

FIG. 12 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bushing shown in FIG. 11.

As illustrated, door 12 has a main body 14, and another door 16 has amain body 18. Both doors are substantially duplicates. A door mount 20extends partly around a rotatable support shown as a post 22 and screws24 attach said door mount 20 to said body 14. Pins 25 pass part of my3,216,051 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 through said post 22 and said door mount20, holding them together.

A door mount 26 extends partly around a rotatable support shown as apost 28 and screws 30 attach said door mount 26 to said body 18. Pins 31extend through and hold together said post 28 and door mount 26.

A lower bearing 32 rotatably receives said post 22, and is bolted as at34 to a door jamb 36. A lower bearing 38 rotatably receives said post 28and is bolted as at 40 to a door jamb 42. An upper bearing 44 rotatablyreceives said post 22 and is bolted as at 46 to said door jamb 36.Another upper bearing 48 rotatably receives said post 28 and it isbolted as at 50 to said door ja-mb 42.

Since my invention is applicable to one door, I shall describe themechanism as applied to said door 12. A cam 54 is attached to androtates with said post 22 as the door is swung between closed and openposition. This cam has a main body 56 having a hole 58 therethrough atone end that receives said post 22 that is held by a pin 60 driven intoa hole 59 in said body 56. Another hole 61 in said cam body receives astud 76 driven thercinto and later referred to. Extending upwardly fromsaid cam body is a cam actuating portion 62 of triangular shape andhaving two cam surfaces 63 and 64. A spacer 65 is provided between saidcam body 56 and said upper hearing 44.

A movable connector 66 is shown as a link 66 that rests on said cam body56 and is moved by the cam as later explained, being in contact withsaid cam surface 64. This link 66 has a hole 68 at one end laterexplained, and it also has an elongate slot 70 intermediate oppositeends thereof.

Another movable connector or link 72 rests on said link 66 and it has ahole 73 later referred to, and also an elongate slot 74 similar to slot70. A stud 76 loosely extends through holes 68 and 73 and tightly fitsin said cam body hole 61, hence this stud will move with said post 22.

A compression device 80 has a connector shown as a clevis 82 that isinteriorly screw-threaded at one end and has a hole 84 that extendsthrough both arms thereof at the side. A pin 86 slidably extends throughthe latter hole and into link slot 70, and a cotter pin 88 holds saidpin 86 in place. Said clevis 82 pivots on said pin 86 as the latterslides in said link slot 70.

Said compression device 80 has a long rod 90 that is screw-threaded atone end as at 91 and connects with interior screw-threads 92 at one endof said clevis. An adjustable, stop member nut 94 and a locking nut 96are screw-threadedly connected to said screw-threads 91. An

elongate compression spring 98 is movably mounted on said rod 90 one endof which bears against said adjusting nut 94. The opposite end of saidspring enters a stop member shown as a conical bearing 100 firmlymounted on said rod 90 so that the spring is retained under somecompression on said latter rod between said nut 94 and said bearing 100.

An angle support 102 is attached to an outside mounting or header 103and the rod 90 movably extends through the latter and somewhat beyond.Said bearing 100 extends into a beveled hole 104 in said header, saidrod 90 being slidable in the latter hole.

Another compression device 80a, similar to said device 80, has aconnector or clevis 82a. that is interiorly screwthreaded at one end andhas a hole 84a that extends through both parts thereof at the side. Apin 86a slidably extends through the latter hole and into link slot 74and a cotter pin 88:: holds said pin 86a in place. Said clevis 82apivots on said pin 86a as the latter slides in said link slot 70.

Said compression device 80a has a long rod 90a that is screw-threaded atone end as at 91a and connects with said clevis interior screw-threads92a at one end thereof. An adjusting nut or stop member 94a. and alocking nut 96:: are screw-threadedly connected to said screw-threads92a. An elongate compression spring 9811 encircles said rod a one end ofwhich bears against said adjusting nut 94a under some compressionnormally. The opposite end of said spring enters a conical bearing 100afirmly mounted on an end portion of said rod 90a so that the spring isretained on said latter rod between said nut 94a and said bearing 100a.The latter extends partly into said header 103.

An angle support 102a. is attached to said header 103 and the rod 90agoes through the latter and somewhat beyond. Said .bearing 100a extendsinto a beveled hole 104a also in said header, said latter rod beingslidable in the latter hole.

In the event that a second door 14 is used the door control mechanism issimilar to that previously described, and I have shown some of the partsin said FIG. 1. A cam body is similar to body 56 and the compressiondevice 112 is similar to said device 80, and a clevis 114 is similar toclevis 82. Also a long rod 116 on which an adjusting nut 118 as well asa lock nut 120 are scre-w-threadedly connected are similar to said rod90 and nuts 94 and 96. Likewise a compression spring 122 is similar tospring 98 and it enters a conical bearing 124 similar to bearing 100,that is set in an angle support 126 similar to support 102, and that isattached to said header 103.

My mechanism is preferably protected by a cover 130 extending across thetwo doors shown. This cover 130 has a bottom portion 132, a side 133extending angularly from the latter, and another bottom portion 134 lapsover said portion 132 and it has an angularly extending side 135.Extending angularly outward from said sides 133 and 135 are flanges 138and 140 respectively. Recesses 142 are provided in said bottom portions132 and 134 at an end to accommodate said post 22, while other recesses144 are also provided therein at an opposite end to receive said post28. Holes 146 and 148 are provided in said flanges 138 and 140respectively to receive screws, not shown, to attach said cover 130 tosaid header 103.

In operation, when a door 12 is swung to open it, said post 22 rotates,carrying cam 54 with it. This causes cam surface 64, which is in contactwith link 66, to move the latter causing the link to rotatably moveclockwise or towards the outside edge of the door body as illustrated insaid FIG. 3. The movement of link 66 in an are com; presses said spring98 between said nut 94 and said bearing 100. When movement of link 66causes the angle between the slot 70 and rod 82 to exceed 90 degrees thepin 86 slides inwardly in said slot 70 towards the pivot point, reducingthe leverage to compensate for the additional compression of the springas the movement of the door continues towards full open position.

Said door 12, upon release, will return to closed positionautomatically, by virtue of the compression of the spring, and a reversemovement of pin 86 in the slot 7 0 will occur. The door will remain inclosed position until pressure against the door starts the controlmechanism in action, as described.

When the opening movement of the door is in a direction opposite to thatabove described, the device 80a as well as the link 72 and connectedparts move in a manner similar to that described, as a result of the camsurface 63 being forced against said link 72 as said post 22 is rotated.

My mechanism may be used on a door that opens in one direction only, inwhich event only one compression device and connected parts need beused. a 7

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a modified form of my invention in which a screw154 extends through said link 66 and adjusts the position of the latterby contact with said jamb 36. A lock nut 158 on said screw 154 permitsadjustment of the latter. Another stop screw 160 extends through a hole162 in said link 72 and similarly limits the movement 4 of the latterlink. A lock nut 164 is connected to said screw 160.

A rocker arm 166 is pivotally connected to said header 103 by means of apivot member 168 that screws into the header. Near one end of saidrocker arm is a bushing 170 bearing against said arm and mounted on saidrod 90. This bushing 170 extends into a groove 173 in said rocker arm.

Another bushing 174 is at the other end portion of said rocker arm 166,bearing against the latter and it extends into a groove 175 in saidrocker arm. Both of said rods 90 and 30a. slidably extend through slots172 and 176 in said rocker arm and through holes 170 and 180respectively in bearings 170 and 174.

When either said rod 90 or 90a is moved by movement of said link 66 or72, both of the compression springs 98 and 98a are compressed betweentheir respective bushings 170 and 174 and adjusting nuts 94 and 94a,thus compressing both springs whenever a single link is moved.

What I claim is:

1. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed and open positions, said mechanism comprising a rotatable supportfixed to said door, a cam fixedly attached to said support, a linkadapted to be actuated by movement of said cam, first means rotatablyconnecting said link to said cam, said link having an elongate slottherein, a connector, 2. pin extending through and slidable in said slotand connected to said connector, a movable compression device attachedto said connector embodying an elongate rod, a spring movably mounted onsaid rod, and adapted to be compressed upon movement of said link in onedirection, and means on said rod against which said spring may becompressed.

2. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed and open positions, said mechanism comprising a rotatable supportfixed to said door, a cam fixedly attached to said support, a pinfixedly mounted in said cam, a movable compression device, a movableconnector operably associated with said cam and movable thereby andconnected to said compression device, said connector having a holethrough which said pin loosely extends and having an elongate slottherethrough, said device embodying a spring adapted to be compressedupon movement of said movable connector in one direction, means atopposite ends of said spring between which said spring may be compressedupon application of pressure thereto upon movement of said movableconnector in one direction, said device having a hole theretbrough, andanother pin extending loosely through said slot and said latter hole andconnecting said device and connector.

3. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed and open positions, said mechanism comprising a rotatable supportfixed to said door, a cam fixedly attached to said support and having anopening therein to fixedly receive said support and having anotheropening therein, a movable compression device, a movable connectoroperably associated with said cam and movable thereby and connected tosaid compression device, said device embodying a spring adapted to becompressed upon movement of said movable connector in one direction, andmeans at opposite ends of said spring between which said spring may becompressed upon application of pressure thereto upon movement of saidmovable connector in one direction, said mechanism embodying a pin thatmovably extends through said connector and fixedly extends into said camother opening, said cam having an actuating portion having a camsurface, said movable connector being so positioned as to be contactedby said cam surface during actuation whereby said device is actuated andsaid spring compressed upon movement of said cam in one direction.

4. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed and open positions, said mechanism comprising a rotatable pipefixed to said door, a cam fixedly attached to said pipe, and having acam surface, a link so positioned as to be contacted by said cam surfaceand adapted to be moved by movement of said cam, a pin extending looselythrough said link and fixedly extending into said cam, said link havingan elongate slot therein intermediate its ends, a compression deviceadapted to move by movement of said link embodying an elongate rod and aclevis connected to said rod, a pin extending loosely through saidclevis and said link slot and movable in said slot, a spring movablymounted on said rod, and stop members on said rod, said spring beinglocated between said stop members and adapted upon movement of said"device to be compressed.

5. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed position and in two opposite directions to open positions, saidmechanism comprising a rotatable support fixed to said door, a camfixedly attached to said support and having two cam surfaces, twomovable compression devices, adapted to be individually moved, twomovable connectors operably associated with said cam and positioned inthe path of movement of said two cam surfaces and connected to saidcompression devices, each said connector being movable individuallyduring movement of said cam in a predetermined direction, said deviceseach embodying a spring adapted to be individually compressed uponmovement of said movable connectors, and means at opposite ends of eachsaid spring between which said springs may be compressed uponapplication of pressure thereto upon movement of said movableconnectors.

6. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed position and in two opposite directions to open positions, saidmechanism comprising a rotatable pipe fixed to said door, a cam fixedlyattached to said pipe and having two cam surfaces, two links sopositioned as to be contacted by said surfaces and one or the other ofwhich is adapted to be moved by movement of said cam, a pin extendingloosely through said two links and fixedly extending into said cam, eachsaid link having an elongate slot therein intermediate its ends, twocompression devices each adapted for individual movement by movement ofsaid link, each embodying an elongate rod and a clevis connected to saidrod, two pins each respectively extending loosely through said clevisesand said link slots and movable in said slots, two springs each beingmovably mounted on said rods and adapted to be respectively compressedupon movement of a said link in a predetermined direction, and stopmembers on each said rod, said springs being located respectivelybetween said stop members and adapted upon movement of said device to becompressed.

7. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed position and in two opposite directions to open positions, saidmechanism comprising a rotatable support fixed to said door, a camfixedly attached to said support and having two cam surfaces, twomovable compression devices adapted to be individually moved, twomovable connectors operably associated with said cam and positioned inthe path of movement of said two cam surfaces and movably connected tosaid devices, each said connector being movable individually duringmovement of said cam in a predetermined direction, said devices eachembodying an elongate rod, springs each movably mounted on a respectiverod and both adapted to be compressed upon movement of either of saidmovable connectors, stop means at opposite ends of each said springbetween which said springs may be compressed upon application ofpressure thereto by movement of said movable connectors, a rocker armadapted to be rotatably mounted on supporting means outside of said doorand outwardly beyond said springs and having opposite end portions, thesaid stop means at one end of said springs bearing against said rockerarm, said rods movably extending through said end portions respectivelywhereby movement of either said rod in either of two opposite directionsis adapted to actuate said rocker arm and thus compress said springssimultaneously.

8. Control mechanism in combination with a door adapted to swing betweenclosed position and in two opposite directions to open positions, saidmechanism comprising a rotatable upright member fixed to said door, acam fixedly attached to said latter member and having two cam surfaces,two movable compression devices, adapted to be individually moved, twomovable links operably associated with said cam and positioned in thepath of movement of said two cam surfaces and movably connected to saiddevices, each said link being movable individually during movement ofsaid cam in a predetermined direction, said devices each embodying anelongate rod, compression springs each movably mounted on its respectiverod and adapted to be compressed upon movement of said movableconnectors, stop members at opposite ends of each said spring betweenwhich said springs may be compressed upon application of pressurethereto upon movement of said movable links, a rocker arm adapted to berotatably mounted on supporting means outside of said door and outwardlybeyond said springs and having opposite end portions, the said stopmembers at one end of said springs bearing against said rocker arm, saidrods movably extending through said end portions respectively wherebymovement of either said rod in either of two opposite directions isadapted to actuate said rocker arm and thus compress said springssimultaneously.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

1. CONTROL MECHANISM IN COMBINATION WITH A DOOR ADAPTED TO SWING BETWEENCLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SUPPORTFIXED TO SAID DOOR, A CAM FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT, A LINKADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM, FIRST MEANS ROTATABLYCONNECTING SAID LINK TO SAID CAM, SAID LINK HAVING AN ELONGATE SLOTTHEREIN, A CONNECTOR, A PIN EXTENDING THROUGH AND SLIDABLE IN SAID SLOTAND CONNECTED TO SAID CONNECTOR,